Aside from a love for hoops, it seemed that Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan (James Lafferty) were two young men with little in common, but they were bound by the fact that they share the same father. The star of the high school basketball team, Nathan hails from a wealthy family, while his half-brother Lucas is the only child of a single mom.

Lucas's transition into Nathan's world created an instant love triangle with Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton). Although she was Nathan's girlfriend at the time, Peyton felt an instant connection to Lucas. Complicating things even more, Peyton's feisty best friend, Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush), quickly set her sights on Lucas. It didn't take Nathan long to notice Lucas's best friend, Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz), an intriguing girl who helped Nathan become a kinder person in the process.

While the teenagers struggled to find their places in the world, the adults in Tree Hill were left to deal with the residue of decisions they made years ago. Nathan's father Dan (Paul Johansson) and Lucas's mother Karen (Moira Kelly) were high school sweethearts. When Karen became pregnant during their senior year, she was devastated by Dan's decision to put his own life and career first. He went off to college on a basketball scholarship, leaving Karen behind to raise their son Lucas alone. When Dan's dream of a basketball career didn't work out, he returned to town with Deb (Barbara Alyn Woods), the wife he met in college, and his newborn son, Nathan. There he found his older brother Keith (Craig Sheffer) serving as Lucas's surrogate father and would-be suitor to Karen.

Lucas and Nathan's rivalry on and off the court even brought back old emotions for the grizzled basketball coach, Whitey Durham (Barry Corbin). Whitey coached Dan when he was the school's star player, and now he is coaching both of Dan's sons.

As season two ended, Lucas finally declared his love for Brooke, who nonetheless left for California. Haley, who had previously resisted Nathan's attempts at reconciliation, surprised him by turning up unannounced on his doorstep. Peyton was confronted by a mysterious woman named Ellie who claimed to be her mother. Karen followed Andy to New Zealand. And Dan was left drugged and unconscious in the burning dealership by an unknown assailant.

Season three finds everyone three months later, with many questions still to be answered. Entering senior year, Lucas finds his life as messy as ever as he balances his feelings for Brooke, with a recent summer that has drawn him closer to Peyton. With basketball season quickly approaching, his attempts to reconcile with Nathan grow more urgent. And since Dan stopped paying for his medication, Lucas searches for a way to treat his heart condition while continuing to keep it a secret from Karen.

Nathan's life is as turbulent as Lucas's. He has moved home but his family life is in shambles. So, too is his relationship with Haley. Nathan must decide whether the wounds of abandonment and mistrust can be healed or if they should both move on - still young enough to avail themselves to new experiences and other loves.

Aside from her troubles with Nathan, Haley struggles to find a way to balance music, school, love and friendship. Coming back isn't as easy as she thought it would be. While some friends will welcome her back with open arms, there are those that are still hurt by her sudden departure. Despite all her attempts to reclaim her old life, Haley may be forced to accept that some broken friendships may be beyond repair.

Peyton is recovering from the loss of Jake, from an isolation that led her to dabble with drugs, and from the loss of her mother - at least until Ellie appeared, claiming to be her mother. Confused and angry, Peyton confronts her father about Ellie and demands to know the truth. The answer throws Peyton into a tailspin as the one thing she's always had - the grief and certainty that her mother is gone - is compromised. Torn between loyalties for the mother she always knew, and desperate for answers from this new woman in her life, Peyton takes a journey into the unknown for answers to her past that may also be intricately linked to her future.

Returning from a summer in California, Brooke must decide how to respond to Lucas's declaration of love for her. Considering how fractured her emotions were the last time she committed to him, Brooke must choose between the girl she's become or a return to the old Brooke, the girl who would rather party and worry about life later - especially when new girl Rachel (Danneel Harris) comes to town to challenge her for high school supremacy.

The upcoming season will also deal with the question of whether Dan will survive the fire and the attempt on his life, considering almost everyone had a motive. Karen decides to pursue some new dreams while still dealing with old nightmares. With Andy still in New Zealand, Karen must decide whether she wants to return to him or remain in Tree Hill surrounded by the ghosts of her past. Deb struggles to stay sober, which becomes more difficult after being forced to deal with the aftermath of Dan's attack. Whitey struggles with his failing health and must decide if he is fit enough to coach the Ravens in pursuit of an elusive state championship.

The journeys of the people who inhabit Tree Hill have been vast, from Lucas's tentative steps off the river court into high school popularity, from Nathan and Haley's first kiss to marriage, from Peyton and Brooke's friendship through their falling out and back. But in other ways, the journey for them and others has only just begun. Where will the roads lead them? And who will they be when they reach their destination? The answers lie in a place called Tree Hill.

And there is only...One Tree Hill.

One Tree Hill is from executive producer and show creator Mark Schwahn (Coach Carter) , executive producers Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola (Smallville) and Greg Prange for Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television Production Inc.